Wisconsin Dells

Denny’s Diner, Wisconsin Dells, 7/21/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
exterior – 2 W Munroe Ave, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Denny’s Diner has been owned by the Van Schoyck family since 1980.  Named for Molly Van Schoyck’s husband Denny, it serves breakfast and lunch every day 6:30 am to 2:00 pm.  Filled with toys and collectables they are noteworthy for their daily baked cinnamon rolls.  Most importantly they are not in anyway affiliated with the national Denny’s chain restaurant.  Seating is in a number of booths next to the windows to the street and tables that can be re-arranged to accomodate groups of many sizes.  There is also seating at the counter.  After you’ve looked over the large menu you can entertain yourself with the 50s-60s music in the background as well as watching a toy train go round overhead or visit Superman in the old phone booth.  It’s a visual feast of items.  My advice is go for a drink and cinnamon roll of any variation and skip the rest of the food.  Please note that it is cash or check only. Continue reading →

Del-Bar, Wisconsin Dells, 7/20/24

~ hsnixon ~ 4 Comments
exterior – 800 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

The Del-Bar has been in business since 1943 when Jim and Alice Wimmer took the plunge and bought an existing roadside restaurant known for its char-broiled steaks.  The restaurant had its 75th anniversary in 2018 when the third generation (two grand-daughters) of the Wimmers took control.  This large place is about tradition and the supper club experience with several bars where you can enjoy a cocktail before dinner in the many dining rooms.  It’s a more elegant scene with table clothes and tasteful decorations.  The building was Prairie-style architecture and was actually designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, James Dresser.  Carpet was on the floor and no music in the background which made conversation easy.  There was a combination of booth and table seating in the dining room as well as patio if you wanted outdoor dining.  I really liked the look of the place and the service was professional and friendly but the food was mixed. Continue reading →

Courtyard Cafe, Wisconsin Dells, 7/20/24

~ hsnixon ~ Leave a comment
street entrance – 434 Broadway Ave, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

The Courtyard Cafe has had the current owners for 3 months.   The Lohr’s bring with them 30 years of  local restaurant experience and you’ll find their parents, kids and sibling all there helping. They serve breakfast and lunch in a large high ceiling room next to the Wizard Quest courtyard.  At one entrance they also have an ice cream counter and advertise specialty coffee drinks.  Beer and wine are available as were a few cocktails.  We sat at the counter but there were numerous tables of many sizes in the dining room.  We were there in a transition time so both the breakfast and lunch menus were in play.  Currently you cannot get served in the patio but you can pick up to go and eat there.  It was refreshing to see a less cluttered interior and anticipate straightforward food.  I would recommend this place, especially the onion strings or anything with the jalapeno popper spread.

Set-Up

courtyard entrance
interior
interior
interior
Frankie pointed out their hours
specials menu
menu
breakfast menu
breakfast menu
lunch menu
lunch menu

 

Food

I had to start with an order of the Mini Donuts that are billed to be “just like at the fair.”   They came out with the cinnamon sugar on them and it was a generous serving.  They were not hot but still plenty soft and tasty.

mini donuts

 

As an appetizer we shared an order of the Haystack Onion Rings which are served wtih housemade ranch dressing on the side.  They were hot and crisp with well cooked onions inside.  The coating adhered nicely to the onion.  They were delicious with or without the dressing.

onion strings

 

The Ultimate Turkey Club contained turkey, bacon, lettuce, cheddar and mayo on white toast.  Some of the toast pieces were overly toasted and the bacon could have been crisper.  Removing the middle piece of bread helped but it’s still a mildly flavored sandwich.  Pickle slices were a mild dill.

Ultimate Turkey Club

 

The Grilled Ham and Cheese was made with cheddar and smoky salty ham.  I made it ‘Gregg’ style by adding their famous jalapeno popper spread for $2.  This was a key to making this one sing.  The server suggested it was his favorite way to eat it and it did add a good amount of spice as well as creaminess to the interior.  It was a generous mound of thin sliced ham and well melted cheese on perfectly toasted bread.  It was very good.

Grilled Ham and Cheese
side view

Ishnala Supper Club, Lake Delton, WI., 7/19/21

~ hsnixon ~ 6 Comments
above entry – S2011 Ishnala Rd, Lake Delton, WI 53940

Ishnala Supper Club is named for a Winnebago Indian word meaning “by itself alone.”  It overlooks Mirror Lake in the middle of Mirror Lake State Park.  Settlers bought the lands from the tribe in 1826 and constructed a log cabin trading post.  The Coleman family bought it in 1909 and made it into their dream home but it changed hands in 1953 when the Hoffman Brothers bought it and created the Ishnala Supper Club, as it is today.  Robert Prosser, who started work there as a busboy in 1973,  bought it in 1993 .  When we went he was at the door greeting guests.  It’s a huge place with an extended driveway to the grounds and parking lots, but if they fill there is parking where you turn in and a shuttle to get you to the restaurant and its 4 bars.  You check in and will be given an estimate on how long your wait is as they take no reservations.  The bars open at 3:30 and the restaurant at 4:00 but the line starts forming by 3:00.  We got there at 3:00 and were happy that they started letting people in about 10 minutes early.  When we left, the reception person said the wait was 2.5 hours.  It’s a machine.  There were chairs everywhere on porches and in the various bars located on many levels. Continue reading →